With the NBA season winding down, we are getting to a sad time. A time when we are only rooting for baseball. Speaking of, check out our MLB picks for today (how'd you like that subtle transition/ plug? Pro move). It's a big Wednesday in the NBA and you need to get your mind right. So much going on in the DFS world now. We've got you covered.
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Kings Point Guards
Isaiah Thomas - FanDuel $8,200 DraftKings $7,000 DraftStreet $15,275
Ray McCallum - FanDuel $4,900 DraftKings $5,000 DraftStreet $11,804
I don't know who's starting tomorrow, but whoever walks on to that court with the first team is getting the nod from me. We all know why. The Lakers don't believe in defending opposing point guards as it's not part of their overall strategy. They prefer a more matador approach. Even with Thomas coming back from injury I wouldn't be too terribly concerned about him hitting value. And if he's not playing McCallum makes a great play even though his price has come up some. Have to target LA on a big day.
Darren Collison - FanDuel $5,700 DraftKings $5,100 DraftStreet $10,565
No Crawford means Collison, Collison and more Collison. He is someone I'll be targeting just about everywhere because of the amount of minutes he sees when Jamal isn't around. The Clips are so short in their backcourt right now that Darren will see everything he can handle.
Mike Conley - FanDuel $7,200 DraftKings $7,400 DraftStreet $13,753
When they played last week Conley went for 23/5/6 and was a top play. While I don't think he'll shoot 75% from the field again, he most definitely has a great matchup against the T-Wolves. Conley is recommended when the Grizz take on quick opponents. This is the case. We picked him against Minnesota last time and are firing him off again tonight.
Kemba Walker - FanDuel $7,900 DraftStreet $15,847
Though his home/ road splits don't necessarily favor this matchup (much better near his own bed), Walker has to be targeted against the Sixers. And yes Philly's been playing better of late, but they are still bad. Walker should see plenty of opportunity tonight and Philly's been better about keeping games somewhat close of late.
Shaun Livingston - FanDuel $4,700 DraftKings $4,400
Livingston remains at crazy low prices even though his production is just solid. He's more a cash game play for me, but the Knicks can give it up to guys who roam the backcourt for the opposing squad. Plus Livingston's hybrid style will cause matchup problems for the stupid* Knicks.
*analyst term
DeMar DeRozan - FanDuel $7,900 DraftKings $7,700 DraftStreet $14,196
The top shooting guard option today and a guy I'll be honing in on mostly because much of the rest of the position is speculative at best. We recommended Joe Johnson against the Rockets yesterday and he obliged with a 34/4/3 line. Derozan gets to play that same defense that allows 10% more scoring than league average to shooting guards. Plus, as someone commented on Twitter last night, James Harden looks gassed right now. Expect big things from DeMar.
Laker Shooting Guards
Kent Bazemore - FanDuel $5,000 DraftKings $4,600 DraftStreet $8,975
Nick Young - FanDuel $5,300 DraftKings $5,400 DraftStreet $9,620
Both make great upside plays against the Kings who get annihilated by opposing twos. They've let up 16% more scoring than average to the position and amazingly have been even worse lately. Tough to do that really without committing to shittiness as a team. The problem with the Lakers is that they ride the hot hand. Last night it was Swaggy P. Tonight? Who knows.
Ben McLemore - FanDuel $3,700 DraftKings $4,000 DraftStreet $7,129
Really only liking him if IT2 sits again. If Thomas is out, play McLemore as the production goes up when he can see more looks.
Joe Johnson - FanDuel $6,100 DraftKings $5,600 DraftStreet $11,169
I think he'll be getting a ton of shots up tonight against the Knicks.
Matt Barnes - FanDuel $5,600 DraftKings $5,000 DraftStreet $10,234
I'm putting him before the big boys because he gets a great bump if Jamal and Blake both sit. He's been playing crazy minutes for the shorthanded Clippers and will do so again tonight. Plus Phoenix is below average against small forwards. Use his midrange salary to start fitting in some of the more expensive guys tonight.
Paul George - FanDuel $8,300 DraftStreet $14,821
Think he's a little steep for me on DraftKings but completely in play on the other two sites. George gets to square up against the Pistons in a great matchup. Now we know the Pacers have been struggling a bit lately losing five of their last six. But that's why the NBA created teams like the Pistons. To break streaks. Just ask the Sixers. George does his duty tonight against a team that's weak against small forwards.
LeBron James - FanDuel $10,000
Getting real steep on the other sites especially considering the Heat will probably steamroll the Bucks. But I think LBJ can still hit moderate value at this price even with the blowout consideration. He laid a fantasy egg the last time they played, but that kind of game is so rare for Lebron. This salary is just too low to avoid really.
Kawhi Leonard - FanDuel $6,600 DraftKings $6,400 DraftStreet $13,383
Gets his minutes and I think he'll see a fill run tonight. Golden State is solid against SFs except in the area of rebounding. I don't think Kawhi has tremendous upside but he appears a decent value at thin position.
Anthony Davis - FanDuel $11,000 DraftKings $9,900 DraftStreet $22,073
I left his DraftStreet price up but he's getting a little steep there. Unless some crazy punt situations present themselves during the day, I don't think I'm interested in squeezing him into my lineups. On Fanduel I'll have him in some spots and on DraftKings he's close to a must play at that price and a weak position today. The upside on Davis is tremendous with his style of play and Denver refusing to defend opposing power forwards. 60 FPs is in range. But so are injuries, which are a real thing with Davis. His price fluctuates across the industry so don't necessarily consider him a lock everywhere.
Josh McRoberts - FanDuel $5,100 DraftKings $4,900 DraftStreet $10,971 Update: McRoberts has been ruled out. Stands to reason Cody Zeller will see more action.
Like I said, power forward is weird tonight. I'll target as an upside play (seems weird to think that right?) because he has some big games in him. Anything but safe though even against a porous opponent in Philly. He falls into that midlevel range that is more than a punt but typically a team's steady, fourth option that gets it done in other areas of the stat sheet. I'm betting on the increased volume tonight.
Zach Randolph - FanDuel $7,100 DraftKings $7,800 DraftStreet $15,270
Been just crazy consistent lately, putting up 20/10's like it's his job*. Funny enough, his one bad game in the recent past was against the T-Wolves. But that game was a little blowout-y and in Memphis. This one stays close and Z-Bo sees a full run against a team that's below average against power forwards.
*It is his job
Kenneth Faried - FanDuel $7,600 DraftKings $7,600 DraftStreet $14,401
Don't think he'll be a big target tonight and I think you can slip him in as a low percentage start against New Orleans. Davis is a next level player, but not a primary defender. Faried will see his share of points and boards.
DeMarcus Cousins - FanDuel $10,100 DraftKings $10,400 DraftStreet $21,008
Big tags but great opponent. If you are spending dough it'll be tough to pick who to play between him and Al Jeff. If I have the money, I'm going Boogie because he could ransack the Laker interior, leaving death and destruction in his wake. This isn't hyperbole. He might kill someone on the Lakers with his dominance.
Al Jefferson - FanDuel $9,600 DraftKings $9,500 DraftStreet $18,584
A great second option and really I'll be playing both guys depending on how I fit the money in certain situations. Philly is about as dreadful against centers as the Lakers. If I'm spending big money today, it's on the centers.
Jermaine O'Neal - FanDuel $4,300 DraftKings $3,400 DraftStreet $9,468
Bogut will sit again and the Jermaine O'Neal renaissance continues. He was buoyed by overtime last night but he did a 20/8. My only concern tonight is that this is a back to back and O'Neal is fucking old.
Tiago Splitter - FanDuel $5,400 DraftKings $4,400 DraftStreet $9,515
No Bogut should mean Splitter sees a few more board and points.
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